A ballast tank circulation system having inlet and outlet piping and means
for adding one or more halogens in controlled amounts to the water within
the ballast tank. One or more eductors are positioned within the ballast
tank to mix and circulate water within the ballast tank. A recirculating
pump is located externally to the ballast tank to ingest water from the
ballast tank and discharge a stream of pressurized water. The
recirculating pump receives water from the ballast tank through an inlet
line that taps into the outlet piping from the ballast tank. An outlet
line transport the pressurized water to the ballast tank. The eductor
draws in the pressurized water entering the ballast tank and emits a high
pressure jet of water that circulates within the ballast tank thereby
circulating the chemical content of the ballast water. Test streams of
water from the ballast tank can be analyzed to determine the level of at
least one of halogens in the test stream to provide a halogen content
signal. A controller receives the signal and compares the signal to a set
point indicative of the level of halogen desired within the ballast tank
to maintain, increase, or decrease the amount of chemical added to the
water within the ballast tank in controlled amounts.